Brooklyn Asks More City Aid For Cultural Institutions

Brooklyn's nation ally known cultural institutions are being short‐changed by the city and are in need of immediate financial aid, Brooklyn Borough President Sebastian Leone said last week.

Deputy Borough President Lawrence T. Gresser Jr., of Queens asserted:

“We have the same kind of problems here.” He added:

“We are in the midst of studying the whole area of funding both from the city and the State Arts Council. We are recommending that we get together with the executive directors of different art groups all over the city and borough arts councils to try and work out a sensible and effective solution.”

Mr. Leone said that the situation in Brooklyn was so pressing that he had appealed to the Mayor's Committee on Cultural affairs for emergency assistance.

In a letter to Martin E. Segal, committee chairman, and to Deputy Mayor James A. Cavanaugh, the Borough President has spelled out the cultural activities of the borough as well as detailed reports on each, including budgetary needs for the coming year.

“Our financial need is pressing and without such help these institutions—the Brooklyn Museum, the Aquarium, the Academy of Music, the Botanic Gardens and the MUSE will cease to exist,” says Mr. Leone.

Reached at his office the other day, Mr. Segal, commenting on the Borough President's appeal, noted: “It's obvious that Mayor Beame and his administration are keenly aware of the need and problems of all of the cultural institutions in the City of New York.

“That is why the Mayor has appointed this committee on cultural policy, which is now In the process of completing IN study and report to the Mayor. That report will be submitted to the Mayor by the middle of October. We are certain that the Mayor will be very eager to do whatever is possible to implement whatever practical suggestions the report ‘will recommend.”

Brooklyn's cultural facilities, Mr. Leone contends, have developed and increased their constituency. It's the Borough President's hope that “our college/uni varsity coniplex will become a center of the performing arts so that quality instruction in all performing arts can be provided on campus.”

Mr. Leone believes that the Borough President should “have greater ability to fund cultural activities.” At the same time, the special discre tionary funds for arts and cultural affairs should be made available to the boroughs on a more equitable basis, he says.

Breakdown on Funds

A report listing the 1974‐75 tax budget appropriations to cultural institutions, citywide, made by Thomas A. Donnelly, vice chairman for administration of the BrookJjra Museum, shows that Brooklyn, with a population of 2.6‐million received only 19.8 per cent of the funds for institutions. Additional city funds for cultural programs are dispensed by the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department. The State Catincil on the Arts is another major source of funds for cultural institutions and activities.

Manhattan got 41.8 per cent and the Bronx 29.5 per cent of the money allotted to museums and zoos, according to the listing. Brooklyn was also third in funds allotted by the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Administration, receiving 21.5 per cent of these grants compared to 42.9 per cent for Manhattan and 25.2 per cent for the Bronx.

Commenting on the disparity of cultural fund for the various boroughs, Mr. Segal noted: “One of the major reasons why Mayor Beanie appointed the Committee on Cultural Policy was his recognition of the fact that there is no coherence in the way the city has traditionally been involved in its support of cultural institutions.

“Among the matters he asked us to study was the process by Which allocations are now made and what should be done to consider carefully a more efficient and a more effective way of determining city support for various institutions. This is one of the major matters to which our committee is addressing itself.”

More Aid Sought

Harvey Lichtenstein, executive director of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, has asked that Mr. Leone seek a 100 per cent increase in its funding for the coming year, or $1.5‐million. “With our newly established alliance with the School of Performing Arts at Brooklyn College,” Mr. Lichtenstein said, “we are of more and more service to the community. With increased capital over the next 5 to 10 years, the building could be utilized doubly, air‐conditioned and more programs made available at lower prices.”

Mr. Donnelly maintains that the Brooklyn Museum would require $253,180 in additional budget and “to pro vide much needed services In the coming. year.” “We have been forced to close on Mondays and Tuesdays,” he said, “and to limit the number of elementary school classes receiving lectures, tours and other programs by the education division.”

The Brooklyn Arts and Cultural Association has asked the Borough President for restoration of $10,000 cut from its appropriations request by the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Administration. Charlene Victor, executive director of the association, has informed Mr. Leone that unless it is forthcoming “B,A.C.A.'s services will be decreased because of the increase in the cost of living.” We have been informed,” she continued, “by the New York State Council on Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts that amounts of matching funds are still dependent upon New York City appropriations.

“In view of this,” Miss Victor said, “we hope that the Borough President and the City Council will reinstate the $10,000 for the B.A.C.A. in the New York City budget.”

“Our cultural heritage,” says Mr. Leone, “has given BroOklyn a worldwide reputation in the arts, in theater, museums, in the aquariums, in music and in all aspects of the arts. We hope this reputation may continue and expand so that Brooklyn will be known as a better place to live, to do business, to bring up a family and a borough that appreciates its cultural heritage.”

A schedule showing borough distribution of New York City's 1974 ‐75 tax budget appropriations to museums and zoos shows that a total of $23,858,3,42 was disbursed to the various art institutions. Brooklyn received a total allotment of $4,714,762; Queens, $1,144,364; Manhattan, $9.963,644; the Bronx, $7,050,262, and Staten Island, $998,070.

Another major source of funds for the arts is the New York State Council on the Arts. Last May, the Legislature and Governor Wilson approved a record budget of $34.1‐million for 1974‐75—more than, twice the $16.3million alloted for the previous year.

The budget stipulates new patterns for the distribution of the arts. It contains a r quirement that at least 75 cents worth of arts services for each resident be given to each of the 62 counties in the state.

Under this 75‐cent provision there will be dramatic increases in arts for the outlying urban areas. In Brooklyn, for instance, where the council spent $717,235 funding arts organizations in the last year, it will have to allocate $1,951,500 for the present year.

For other areas, corre aponding Increases area Queens, $195,000 to $1,490,400; the Bronx, $373,567 to $1,103,775; Staten Island, $102,037 to $221,550; Nassau County, $212,443 to $1,071,600; Suffolk County, $247,175 to $845,250; Westchester, $306,950 to $670,800.

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A version of this archives appears in print on September 22, 1974, on Page 99 of the New York edition with the headline: Brooklyn Asks More City Aid For Cultural Institutions. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe